Sunday, August 16, 2015

This is the interior of the V&A Mueum of Childhood, which I remember from my visit many years ago as being very brown.

Reminds me of the pictures of the Great Exhibition in 1851. Picture copied from British Library
The are more doll's houses which are part of the permanent collection.
I loved this Dutch kitchen, it is on a larger scale than usual doll house size but just look at the craftsmanship.

I think the dog is looking the wrong way outside this butcher's shop..

This full size greengrocers was just up the road from the museum

There were so many tors to look at, some you remember owning, like the humming top and some I would have liked to have owned. This was for the school room I think but I would love it in my living room

There were some costumes too, just look at the work in this child's dress.

I bet she wasn't allowed a red ice lolly!
We thought these little fellows looked like early version Minions

We both wanted this tow theatre.

Loved these three but I have forgotten the descrition.

There was a small area called The Alice Look with Alice inspired costumes

and an invitation to draw your own Alice. I liked these

After a cup of coffee and a browse round the shop, such wonderful books for children these day, we made our way to Columbia Road to visit Jessie Chorley's shop.
She is such a clever lady and the little shop is full of delights.

Further down the road this couple caught our eye

The art shop they belonged to had the most delicious staircase.

The school had a mosaic wall

and the lamp post had a game on it.

Nearby there was the ideal venue for your Halloween Party.

and the amazing building which, from this angle, looks like a cardboard cut out.

Yesterday's conversations were peppered with "Oh, I had one of those"...."Do you remember?"......we visited the V&A Museum of Childhood in Bethnal Green. Our main reason for visiting was the exhibition of Dolls Houses but the rest of the exhibits evoked many memories.
In the entrance hall there was an installation "Winifrid's Party" created by local school children.

It certainly looked a lot of fun.

Delicious food

an elegant hostess and friend

and unusual guests

The dolls houses were wonderful, you could spend a day on each to take in all the details. They were arranged in a time order starting in the 1700's.

One little girl had to sign an indenture drawn up by her father, promising to pay one shilling a month rent and not to light any fires.

Originally for the amusment of grown ups this wonderful cabinet must have delighted the ladies in the drawing room.

The needlepoint on the chair and the fire screens must have taken exceptional eyesight and patience.

I am not sure I would have trusted the water heater for this shower.

It was difficult to bear in mind that everything in these early house had been made by hand, such wonderful workmanship.

The butler seems to have done quite well for himself.

This house was unusual as it opened from both sides.

and this one would have required a very large nursery.

Unmistakably the 1930's. this one

Complete with sun terrace, swimming pool and tennis court.

Just one more house to show, the 1940's, complete with Lloyd Loom chair and one bar electric fire.

The exhibition ends on the 6th September, so glad I caught it. The rest of yesterday's trip in next post.